All purpose window



Aug. 14, 1956 W. L. WHITE 2,758,345

ALL PURPOSE WINDOW Aug. 14, 1956 w. L. WHITE 2,758,345

ALI.. PURPOSE WINDOW Filed Aug. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR; WaZerl. .Wh we, BY

United States Patent ALLfPURPosE `WINDOW Walter L'Wliite, Miami, Fla., assgnor to Cadillac Window Corp., a corporation of Florida Application August s, L1952, serial No. 303,333

" claims. rc1; zii-62) This 'invention relates to an all purpose window, and more particularly, has reference to fa window including a pair of slotted,symmetrically-aligned assemblies adapted "`to"be`selectvely controlled in a manner to increase the versatility/.of ythe window,above that of more conventional windows.

presently'designed, windows present certain disadvantages, and notable-among these is a lack of versatility. .fThus, ani`ordinary window, considered per se, may be opened or closed for controlling the ventilation of a building' structure, and will admit light to the interior of the structure. 'Howe'venif it is desired that the window not onlyv control'ventilatiom but also the quantity of light to be radmitted'to the interior. of the building struc- "ture, it is nece'ssary`th'at an extraneous or collateral laid be provided, in the form of a venetian blind, shade, or `the like. In such `an instance, a person or iirm other "than the window manufacturer or installer must be called, and the light controlling' device is, in most instances, used independently of the Window itself.

Additionally; ai conventional window is so constructed as to require; iii-many instances, the addition of a storm sshzwhichflike the venetian blind, is a device separate .and'apartfrom the window itself. The storm sash, in r'some'forms thereof, is of a semi-permanent nature requiringits manual erection or removal at different times .of .the year. In other instances, the storm sash is so del signed as toA permit it to be permanently mounted upon 1"the-Window frame, thelatter type of sash requiring, howf""eve`r,"tha't" portions of `the sash be mechanically adjusted ""'to an inoperative position when they are not to be used.

Still'furthen a conventional window willgenerally require vthe'useof asurrounding frame constructed either "ofprecastj concrete, or formed as a wood buck. This "elementofthe window must generally be made. by` av genv4 eral"contractor-"orsubcontractor, or someone other vthan vi"the-"person"orpersonsi installing or manufacturing the window itself.

4VStill further, it' is believed to bea disadvantage of "'conventionalrwindow construction that the use of the abovernentioned Aaidswill, in many instances,detract from thearchtectural attractiveness of the building structure, thisbeingtrue with respect'to both the interior and the #exterior of said structure.

IAnother disadvantage which has been noted in conventional windows is inherent in the use of a plurality of "fmovingfengaged-parts, which parts when adjusted rela- -"tiveitoone"'another create friction, thereby causing wear,

-i-fmalfunctiohing, `andffincreased repair fand maintenance ='costs.

In-VieW-ofEtheaboVe, the broad object of the'present slinventionvisto provide :a window construction wherein, in afsingle,unitary-assembly, there will be provided an v arrangement which will'eliminate the necessity of dif- .ferent .tradespeople constructing or installing different '1 partslof the window, said assembly being at the same time so designed-aste permit its use both as a Ventilating and l a light controlling device.

2,758,345 Patented Aug. 14,1956

ICC

dependently of orin conjunction-with one anotherf as desired.

Still another object of importance-.is to provide a window assembly of the 4type stated in whichfriction producing parts will be reduced tola minimumVthus to provide for a proportionate decrease in repair andmaintenance costs. p

Yet another object of the present vinvention is-to provide Ia window construction as ystatedvwhich willeliminate the necessity of "venetian blinds, -storm sash, orathe like, the window formed in accordance with the present invention being formedv of parts novelly arrangedin a manner which will permit said parts to discharge the functions heretofore performedby storm sashes and venetian blinds.

Still another object of importance Ais to provide a window construction as stated which will be quite inexpensive, and will be capablefof installation at minimum costs-and with maximum speed and ease. v

A further object'of the invention is to provide awindow construction wherein,` in a single unitary assembly, there will be deiined a light control device, a ventilation controldevice, a storm shutter, a black-out shutter, )and a riousgeog'raphical areas Widely lvarying from one another as to climatic conditions. l

Other objects willapeparlfrom the following description,` the'fclaims 'appended thereto,A and from the annexed drawing, inzwhich like reference characters designate like partslthroughoutfthe severalviews, and wherein:

Figure l is' 'an 'elevational view" of a window assembly formed in accordance' with the presentin'vention, as it appears when viewed'from the interior of a building structure in which it is'mounted;

Figure 2 is a'4 vertical Y'sectional'view through said 1assembly, in 'which 'parts remin in elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse part sectional view, taken substantiallyon`line`3+3 ofA FigureY 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View"`sh0wing themeans for adjusting the slats" t0 open and closed positions;

Figure' 5 is a verticahse'c'tio'nal view, portions being broken away, showing a modied form of operating mechanismyand Figure 6 is a pe'rspeotive view'of'one'of the window operators illustrated'n'Figu're 5.

Referring' tothedrawings'indetail, the reference numeral 16 hasbeen applied generally to a' rectangular window frame, said 'f'rame'being'ad-apted to'be mounted in any `suitablemanner in the correspondingly sized rectangular opening 12 of a building wall 14.

In a preferred embodimentof the invention, the frame l0 includes a pair ofparallel, vertically disposed side frame members-l6,18, said -membcrsbeing connected at their upper and lowerends by a header 20 and a sill portion 22, respectively.

Mounted upon thel-innerrsurfaces of the side-frame members 16,18, are vertically disposed pivot strips -24, said pivot stripsZalextending` from top to bottomof the side frame .membersl associated therewith.

The respective Ipivot-strips-Zl are adapted to support the slats ollanV inner` slat=ass`en1bly, shown at lthe leftl in Figure 2, said inner-.Slat assemblyibeingiso termed due to its proximity to the interiorlof the building wall 14.

` Formed in each of-the strips 24 is a longitudinall series of. spaced openings 26 (Figure 3), saidopenings receiving trunnions 28 formed upon the-opposite ends *ofv a plurality of Y slats 32,-said` slats beingwhorizontally dis- -vcally of one another.

It will be seen that each slat 32 is thus connected intermediate its ends to the strips 24 for movement from the horizontal position to a vertical position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the trunnions 28 can be formed upon the mid-length portions of clips 30, the respective clips 30 engaging opposite ends of each slat 32.

` It should be further noted at this point that the slats of the inner slat assembly are preferably formed of glass material or the like, although it is not critical to the invention that they be so formed.

For the purposeV of limiting pivotal movement of the several slats in one direction, anupper stop 34 is provided (Figures 1 and 2), said stop being formed as a long strip of material extending from the side frame member 16 to the side frame member 18, this strip being tixedly secured in any suitable manner to the underside of the header 20. It will be noted that this strip will engage the uppermost slat 30, when said slat is rotated counterclockwise from theposition thereof shown in Figure 2. In this connection, when the slats of the inner slat assembly are so rotated, they overlap with one another, and thus the engagement of the top slat by the strip 34 will result in all the slats being engaged by the slats immediately thereabove.

A lower stop 36 is also provided, said lower stop extending between the members 16, 18 and being secured to the sill portion 22 of the frame, the lower stop engaging the slats when the slats are rotated clockwise from the positions thereof shown in Figure 2.

Positioned along the side member 16 and spaced from the strips 24 is a vertically disposed connecting rod 38, the rod being mounted for up and down movement. One end of each of the slats 32 is likewise connected to the rod 38 for movement from the horizontal position to a vertical position. Specifically, the connections of the respective slats 32 to the rods 38 embody pivotal connections. The pivotal connections include upstanding ears 40 formed upon the several clips 30, each ear having an opening receiving a pin extending into the connecting rod 38.

It will thus be seen that on up and down movement of the connecting rod 38, the slats 30 will be all moved simultaneously to selected positions, said slats in one extreme vertical position completely closing the window opening, and in another extreme horizontal position opening the Window.

An outer slat assembly is also provided in the window constituting the present invention, the outer slat assembly being shown at the right in'Figure 2. This assembly is identical in all respects to the inner slat assembly, with the exception of the material of which the slats 42 thereof are formed. Preferably, the slats 42 are of wood, metal, or other opaque material. The slats 42 have clips on their opposite ends, similar to the clips 30, said clips having trunnions rotatably mounted in openings spaced longitudinally of outer pivot strips 44. A connecting rod 46 connects the several slats 42 for joint movement, the connecting rod also being mounted along the inner side of the frame member 16 in parallelism with the connecting rod 38 of the inner slat assembly.

As shown in Figure 3, the member 16 has a transversely extending recess 48, in which is mounted an operating shaft 50, said shaft 50 being mounted on the frame member 16 both for rotation and for reciprocating movement in the direction of its own length. At its inner end, the shaft 50 is received within and is guided by a socket 52 communicating with the inner side wall of recess 48. The outer end portion of the shaft 50 projects through an opening 54 communicating between the other side wall of the recess 48 and the adjacent edge of the side frame member 16.

A separate raising and lowering means is connected to each of the connecting rods 38 and 46 and to the shaft 50. Specically, spaced transversely of'therecess 48 are arcuate depressions 56, formed in the back wall of the recess, said depressions receiving spools 58, 60. The

-spools 58, 60 are circumposed about the shaft 50, and

as will be noted from Figure 3, the shaft 50 has, at locations spaced longitudnally thereof, non-circular portions 62, 64. The spools 58, 60 have non-circular bores adapted to complement the non-circular portions 62, 64 of the shaft, and it will be seen that on movement of the shaft to the left in Figure 3, the non-circular portionv 62 will be engaged in the complementary bore of spool 58. On movement of the shaft 50 in an oppositedirection, to the right in Figure 3, the non-circular portion 64 will be engaged in the complementary bore of spool 60. It is to be noted that the non-circular portions 62 and 64 on the shaft 50 constitute a pair of clutching elements, and that the non-circular bores in the spools 58 and 60 constitute the complemental clutch elements for coaction with the aforementioned clutching elements. v n j Movement of the shaft 50 in the direction of its length, to an intermediate position, will cause engagement of both non-circular portions 62 and 64 in the bores of their associated spools 58, 60 respectively, thus to cause' joint rotation of both spools with the shaft. y

The construction is one which permits each spool to be engaged with the shaft 50 for rotation with the shaft, independently of the other spool. 'I'he construction is also one which permits both spools to be engaged simultaneously with the shaft 50, for joint rotation.

It will be understood that ordinarily, the spools 58, 60 can rotate relative to the' shaft 50, when the noncircular portions of the shaft are out of engagement with the bores associated therewith. j l

Wound about the spool 60 is the intermediate portion of a cord 66 or other liexible element, and Wound about the spool 58 is a second cord 68.v

The opposite ends of cord 66 are connected to the rod 38, at locations spaced longitudinally 'o f the rod, and therefore, on rotation of the shaft 50 with the spool 60 engaged with the shaft for rotation therewith, the connecting rod 38 will be moved upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction in which the shaft 50 is rotated. The same is true ofthe connecting rod 46.'

In this Way, means is provided for opening or closing the two slat assemblies, independently of or conjointly with one another. Both assemblies canbe therefore adjusted to a full open position. 4-Both assemblies, further, can be adjusted to a fully closed position. Further, the inner slat assembly can be opened to a selected extent while the outer slat assembly .is'fully open. Similarly, the outer slat assembly can be fully or partially opened while the inner slat assembly is fully closed. Other selected arrangements can be employed as desired, utilizing the operating mechanism shown in Figure 3. v y

Advantageously, the operating mechanism permits the window to have great versatility, so as topermit the window to be used as a black-out shutter, stormy sash, and in other ways now possible only `by the use of extraneous mechanical aids. Also, the window controls ventilation, and controls the admission of light, With the light and ventilation being regulated either independently of or conjointly with one another.

It is desirable that means be provided for locking the shaft 50 in selected positions to which it is rotated, and to this end, a bracket 70 is mountedupon theA inner edge of the side frame member 16, the shaft being rotatably journaled in a block 72 provided vin said bracket. The block 72 has, at its outer end, longitudinally aligned locking slots'74 disposed radially of the shaft 50, said slots being adapted to engage against rotation a turning knob 76 secured to the shaft, the turning knob having locking ribs or projections 78 complementing the slots 74. The projections 78 on the knob 76 carriedzby the shaft 50 and the slots 74 formed in the block 72 supported in the bracket 70 carried by the side member 16 constitute interengaging means.

When the elements 78 are engaged in the slots 74, the non-circular portions 62, 64 of the shaft will be engaged in their associated bores, and thus both spools and the shaft will be held in selected positions to which they are adjusted.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, wherein the operating mechanism comprises two shafts instead of one shaft. In this form of the invention, an angle bracket 80 is secured to the inner surface of the member 16, the bracket 80 having an end wall 82 formed with a non-circular aperture 84 adapted for engagement therein of a locking projection 86 formed on the inner end of a knob 88 rigid with shaft 90. It is to be noted that the aperture 84 formed in the end wall 82 of the bracket 80 carried by the side member 16 and the projection 86 formed on the knob 88 carried by the shaft 90 constitute an interengaging means. The shaft 90 is journaled at its inner end, in the opposite legs of a U-shaped spool housing 92 secured xedly to the bracket 80, the bight of the spool housing having an opening 94 in which is positioned a spool 96 secured iixedly to the shaft 90 for rotation therewith. A cord 98 is wound about the spool 96 and is connected to the connecting rod 38 of the inner slat assembly in the same manner as the cord 66 in the first form of the invention.

Referring to Figure 5, a second angle bracket 100 is positioned above the angle bracket 80, and has an end Wall similar to the end wall 82 of bracket 80, a knob 102 being lockingly engageable with the end wall of bracket 100. The knob 102 is xed to a shaft 104 journaled in a bracket or spool housing spaced from the bracket 100, a spool 106 being secured to the shaft 104 for rotation therewith and having a cord 108 wound thereabout.

The cord 108 is connected to the connecting rod 46, and it will thus be seen that either knob 88 or knob 102 can be rotated by a user, to adjust the slats of the inner and outer slat assemblies as desired. Each slat assembly can, of course, be locked in a selected position to which it is adjusted, by the means described above.

The housing in which the spool 106 is positioned has been designated by the reference numeral 110, and is secured to the frame member 16 in any suitable manner, the housing 110 being of U-shaped formation, with an opening in its bight receiving the spool 106.

In both forms of the invention, the net results which may be accomplished are the same, it being readily perceived that the window constitutes a single, unitary assembly which can be manufactured and installed by a single person or rm. This unitary assembly, when installed in the window opening of a building wall, takes the place of a conventional window, and also takes the place of the several extraneous aids commonly associated with a window for the purpose of controlling light and ventilation, providing privacy, and protecting the interior of the building structure against storms.

At the same time, the window formed in accordance with the present invention can be manufacutred at relatively low cost, considering the benets to be obtained from the use thereof, and requires no special framing.

Still further, the window is so formed as to reduce to a minimum the number of frictionally engaged parts, thus to lower to a substantial degree the repair and maintenance costs usually associated with conventional windows.

It is believed clear that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specic use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specic construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A Window construction comprising upstanding side members, a header connecting the upper ends of said side members, a sill connecting the lower ends of said side members, a pair of vertically disposed slat assemblies arranged in tandem spaced relation between said side members, each of said assemblies embodying a pair of strips extending in parallel spaced relation between said side members and fixedly secured at their upper and lower ends to said header and sill respectively, a vertically disposed connecting rod positioned along one of said side members and spaced from said strips and mounted for up and down movement, a plurality of horizontally disposed slats arranged in superimposed spaced relation between said strips and each connected intermediate its ends to said strips for movement from the horizontal position to a vertical position and connected at one end to said connecting rod for movement from the horizontal position to a vertical position, a horizontally disposed operating shaft extending transversely of said one of said side members and rotatably supported in said one of said side members, a separate raising and lowering means connected to each of said connecting rods, and means operatively connecting said shaft to both of said means for effecting the up and down movements of said connecting rods individually or collectively in response to the rotary movement of said shaft.

2. A window construction comprising upstanding side members, a header connecting the upper ends of said side members, a sill connecting the lower ends of said side members, a pair of vertically disposed slat assemblies arranged in tandem spaced relation between said side members, each of said assemblies embodying a pair of strips extending in parallel spaced relation between said side members and tixedly secured at their upper and lower ends to said header and sill respectively, a vertically disposed connecting rod positioned along one of said side members and spaced from said strips and mounted for up and down movement, a plurality of horizontally disposed slats arranged in superimposed spaced relation between said strips and each connected intermediate its ends to said strips for movement from the horizontal position to a vertical position and connected at one end to said connecting rod for movement from the horizontal position to a vertical position, a horizontally disposed operating shaft extending transversely of said one of said side members and connected to said yone of said side members for rotary and reciprocatory movements, a separate raising and lowering means connected to each of said connecting rods and to said shaft, and a pair of clutching elements on said shaft arrangedin spaced relation therealong and normally in coacting relation with complemental clutching elements included in each of said means for simultaneously eiecting the up and down movements of both of said connecting rods in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, one of said clutching elementsv coacting with the complemental clutching element formed on one of said means upon reciprocatory movement of said shaft in one direction and effecting the up and down movement of only one of said connecting rods in response to rotary movement of said shaft, and the other of said clutching elements coacting with the complemental clutching element formed on the other of said means upon reciprocatory movement of said shaft i References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McQueen Dec. 16, 1919 Kump Jan. 2, 1945 De Carlo Nov. 8, 1949 

